Sims Township interested in bringing back road maintenance millage

SIMS TWP. — The Sims Township board is seeking the renewal of its 0.5-mill road millage, which would run for four years, and raise money for road maintenance and repair work.

According to Township Supervisor Rodney Francis, the road millage operated in the last four years, and the township has worked resurfacing secondary county roads. With the renewal, the township is interested in working on primary roads, as well.

Millage amounts are determined by the taxable value of property; 1 mill is the equivalent of $1 for each $1,000 of taxable value. In the case of the road millage, this comes out to $0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value.

The previous millage allowed the township to resurface Delano Rd. and a portion of Michigan avenue between Main St. and Tonkey Rd. with blacktop. Francis said there was enough money left to add a stone base to other roads in the township, as well.

With a new millage, Francis said the township is interested in working on Crescent avenue around Point Lookout. Leftover funds would go toward any immediate needs that come up, Francis said.

The millage would bring in around $39,795 annually. However, the township also gets assistance from the Arenac County Road Commission, Francis said.

“One of the factors in this is the county road commission matches the first $25,000 we spend,” Francis said. ”It’s kind of a bonus to get them to spend some money on our roads.”

If the millage fails, Francis said the township does not have the money to replace it. He said the township’s general fund gets about $60,000 a year.